Quiz 603: General Studies (Current Affairs) for IAS Examination

First Published: March 30, 2012 | Last Updated:October 27, 2017

1. Government of India has decided to go for a comprehensive overhaul of the coastal security architecture after the 26/11 attacks and a blue print was drawn in recent times. Which among the following is/ are elements of this plan?
1. A coastal radar surveillance network
2. A chain of automatic identification system (AIS)
3. Raising Special Security for Coastal regions
4. Raising special unit for maritime intelligence
Choose the correct option:
[A]1 Only
[B]1, 2 Only
[C]1, 2, 3 Only
[D]1, 2, 3, 4

1, 2, 3, 4 The government had decided to go for a comprehensive overhaul of the coastal security architecture after the 26/11 attacks and had drawn a blueprint of the proposal. This included installing coastal radar surveillance network, a chain of automatic identification system (AIS) stations, setting up a special security force Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB), issuing fishermen identity cards and creating a maritime intelligence network NC3IN or the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence.

2. Consider the following statements in context with the proposed Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) :
1.Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) is called TRIPS-Plus agreement
2. Its a part of WTO Trade negotiations
3. India is a negotiator among the other countries
4. It is related to counterfeit goods, generic medicines and copyright infringement on the Internet
Which among the above statements is/ are correct?
[A]Only 1 & 4
[B]1 & 2
[C]1, 2 & 3
[D]Only 4

Only 1 & 4
Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) has been called TRIPS-Plus agreement and is being proposed to out of WTO agreements. China and India have been out of the negotiations. It was proposed by Japan and US and as of now, the developed countries are trying to bring it into action. The scope of ACTA is counterfeit goods, generic medicines and copyright infringement on the Internet.

3. Consider the following statements about United Nations Convention against Corruption:
1. United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first legally binding international anti-corruption instrument.
2. India has ratified this convention
3. Only large economies outside this convention are Japan, Germany and United States
Which among the above statements is / are correct?
[A]1 & 2
[B]1, 2 & 3
[C]1& 3
[D]Only 1

1 & 2
It is correct that United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first legally binding international anti-corruption instrument. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, on 31 October 2003 and India is one of the signatories to this convention. India has now ratified this convention. India signed the convention in 2005, along with 139 countries. The purpose of the convention is to strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption through international cooperation, among other measures. The convention also includes model preventive policies, such as establishing anti-corruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. It also provides for assistance and cooperation for asset recovery, particularly in case of embezzlement of public funds. The third statement is NOT correct. The big economies outside this convention are Japan, Germany, but not United States. Other major countries outside UNCAC are Burma, Saudi Arabia, Sudan etc.

4. In context with the various conflicts all over world, which among the following has been the oldest ongoing war in the world as of now?
[A]Nigerian Sharia conflict
[B]War on Terror
[C]Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
[D]Internal conflict in Burma

Internal conflict in Burma
The internal conflict in Burma is the oldest ongoing war in the world, existing since 1948 and intensified after 1988 called 8888 uprising.

5. Who among the following are the beneficiaries of the Mill Gate Price Scheme (MGPS)?
[A]Cultivators of Cotton,
[B]Handloom organizations
[C]Cultivators of Jute and Wool
[D]None of them

Handloom organizations
The objective of MGPS scheme is to provide all types of yarns to the handlooms weavers Organizations at the Mill Gate price. All Handloom organizations of National/State/Regional/Primary handloom level are beneficiaries.

6. What was the ‘Nano Hummingbird’ making news in first half of 2011?
[A]A newly discovered bird species
[B]A Hummingbird species with modified features due to use of technology
[C]An small surveillance aircraft
[D]An unmanned aerial vehicle

An small surveillance aircraft

7. Recently, the Vanadium redox battery is being cited as a potential game-changer for battery technology, raising the prospect of an investment boom in this industry worldwide. What are advantages of Vanadium redox battery?
1. It has only one electro active element instead of two
2. Almost unlimited capacity can be achieved with these batteries
3. These batteries have higher energy-to-volume ratio
Which among the above statements is/ are correct?
[A]Only 1 & 2
[B]Only 2 & 3
[C]Only 1
[D]1, 2 & 3

Only 1 & 2
Vanadium redox flow batteries are large, rechargeable batteries that use tanks of liquid and charged vanadium electrolytes to produce and store energy.
Examples of the technology operate in power plants in the United States, Asia and Europe. Vanadium can take on multiple charges, so both sides of the
battery use the same material this means that only one electro active element is needed. There is no damage if the battery solution leaks, so the batteries
can last for about 20 years. Vanadium flow batteries are flexible in that they can be small enough to power a single solar panel or large enough to support
an entire grid. The capacity of a battery is easily expanded by simply adding more solution. The third statement is incorrect as they have low energy to
volume ratio.

8. The word “Agricultural shot” is known to be used sometimes in which among the following sports?
[A]Cricket
[B]Hockey
[C]Polo
[D]Golf

Cricket
The shot is really a swing of the bat across the line of the ball (resembling the motion made while using a scythe). There is not much difference in technique to the conventional on drive. The shot often causes a chunk of the pitch to be dug up by the bat, hence the name. The shot is a type of slog and is mostly used in street cricket as there is little emphasis on getting the technique right.

9. Why is the Tunisian revolution, the source of inspiration for the Arab World Revolution and a symbol for the entire world, called the Jasmine Revolution?
1. Jasmine is National Flower of Tunisia
2. The revolution started in Sidi Bouzid city which is famous for Jasmine Flowers
3. The revolution started with self immolation of a woman called Jasmine.
Choose the correct reasons:
[A]Only 1
[B]1 & 2
[C]1, 2 & 3
[D]None of them

Only 1
kindly read this article
It refers to the December-January mass uprising in Tunisia that overthrew president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on January 15. It was sparked off by the self-immolation of vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, when he was humiliated by a woman constable on December 17. It was christened the Jasmine Revoluion by the media in keeping with the geopolitical nomenclature of ‘colour revolutions’. The movement grew over the issues of unemployment, food inflation, corruption, lack of freedom of speech and poor living conditions and overflowed into Egypt where it has been raging.

10. A new term “Vertical farming” has been in news recently. What is this vertical farming?
[A]Its a new method of agriculture in which crops are cultivated inside multi-storey buildings
[B]Its a new method of agriculture in which various unrelated crops are grown together in same tract of land
[C]Its a new method of agriculture in which various closely related crops are grown together in same tract of land
[D]In Vertical farming , many systems such as aquaculture, sericulture, pisciculture and bee culture are altogether used for better use of land and resources

A is correct answer
Vertical farming is a greenhouse method of agriculture where commercially viable crops are cultivated inside multi-storey buildings in cities to simulate natural ecological systems. Using advanced greenhouse technology such as hydroponics and aeroponics, the skyscrapers could theoretically produce fish, poultry, fruit and vegetables. Since everything is ‘hydroponics’ in this practice, ie, in mineral solutions, the problems of soil erosion, pesticide toxicity are not there.

11. Consider the following statements about Financial Stability Board:
1. It is based in London
2. It has succeeded Financial Stability Forum
3. Its members are only G-20 Countries
Which among the above statements is/ are correct?
[A]Only 1
[B]Only 1 & 2
[C]Only 2
[D]1, 2 & 3

Only 2
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) is an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system. It was established after the 2009 G-20 London summit in April 2009 as a successor to the Financial Stability Forum. The Board includes all G-20 major economies, FSF members, and the European Commission. It is based in Basel, Switzerland

12. What are the differences between different resolutions passed by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?
1. The UNGA resolutions are legally non-binding upon member nations , while the UNSC Resolutions are legally binding upon all members.
2. The UNGA resolutions are sponsored by any member, UNSC Resolutions are sponsored by only permanent members.
Choose the correct option:
[A]Only 1 is correct
[B]Only 2 is correct
[C]Both 1 & 2 are correct
[D]Both 1 & 2 are incorrect

Both 1 & 2 are incorrect
This question is important. Please note that it is correct to say that UNGA resolutions are legally non-binding upon member nations but saying that UNSC Resolutions are legally binding upon all members, is incorrect. This is because the UNSC resolutions are of two kinds taken as per chapter VI and VII of the UN Charter which correspond to nonbinding and binding resolutions. Kindly refer to geopolitics Module 1 of Target 2012 or visit wikiepdia page on UNSC. It is correct to say that UNGA resolutions are sponsored by any member, however, again it is incorrect to say that UNSC Resolutions are sponsored by only permanent members.

13. Consider the following observations about Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
1. All permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have signed and ratified it
2. Only India, Pakistan and North Korea are not a party to the treaty
3. Non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use nuclear technology are the three pillars of NPT
Which among the above observations is / are correct?
[A]Only 1 & 2
[B]Only 1 & 3
[C]1, 2 & 3
[D]Only 2 & 3

Only 1 & 3
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a treaty to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, opened for signature on July 1, 1968. There are currently 189 countries party to the treaty, five of which have nuclear weapons: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the People’s Republic of China (the permanent members of the UN Security Council). Only four recognized sovereign states are not parties to the treaty: India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea. India, Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons. Israel has had a policy of opacity regarding its own nuclear weapons program. North Korea acceded to the treaty, violated it, and later withdrew. The treaty was proposed by Ireland and Finland and they were the first to sign. The signing parties decided by consensus to extend the treaty indefinitely and without conditions upon meeting in New York City on May 11, 1995. The NPT consists of a preamble and eleven articles. Although the concept of “pillars” appears nowhere in the NPT, the treaty is nevertheless sometimes interpreted as having three pillars:Non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use nuclear technology.

14. In recent times, a new kind of oil called “tight oil” has been in news. What is this “tight oil” ?
[A]It is a crude oil that is found in petroleum-bearing shale formations that have relatively low porosity and permeability
[B]It is an unconventional oil produced from oil shale by pyrolysis, hydrogenation, or thermal dissolution
[C]It is an unconventional oil obtained from organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rocks
[D]It is a colloquial term for high cost petroleum crude due to fluctuations in international crude oil prices.

It is a crude oil that is found in petroleum-bearing shale formations that have relatively low porosity and permeability Tight oil is a light hydrocarbon contained in petroleum-bearing shale formations that have relatively low porosity and permeability. Tight oil is extracted at depths of 2 to 3 km on average, with the deepest wells taking up to six weeks to drill. Fracking technology is relatively new but is most developed in the United States, where tight oil could add up to 1 million barrels per day to total oil production by 2016, according to a report by the International Energy Association (IEA). Tight oil should not be confused with oil shale, which contains kerogen. Kerogen is a heavy mixture of organic chemical compounds, the soluble part of which is known as bitumen. Oil shale is a primitive form of oil that has not yet been converted into crude, because the sediment has experienced great heat or high pressure. It is typically found in shallow deposits and is mined, instead of drilled, with a consequent impact on the environment.

15. Consider the following statements about the general features of Sudan and Southern Sudan:
1. Southern Sudan is full of jungles and swamps, while the north is mostly desert
2. Most northerners are Arabic-speaking Muslims, while the south is made up of numerous different ethnic groups who are mostly Christian or follow traditional religions.
Which among the above statements is/ are correct?
[A]Only 1
[B]Only 2
[C]Both 1 & 2
[D]Neither 1 nor 2

Both 1 & 2
The great divide across Sudan is visible even from space. The northern states are a blanket of desert, broken only by the fertile Nile corridor. Southern Sudan is covered by green swathes of grassland, swamps and tropical forest. Sudan’s arid northern regions are home mainly to Arabic-speaking Muslims. But in Southern Sudan there is no dominant culture. The Dinkas and the Nuers are the largest of more than 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditional beliefs and languages.